Bourbon Nights - Shari J. Ryan Page 0,94

she is heading to The Barrel House, where Brett has been spending late nights helping the Quinn family pick up the pieces after Harold passed away. I haven’t been as much help, I suppose, but as it is, I’m hardly able to manage my daily schedule with Hannah. I sent Mrs. Quinn a card and flowers, but they probably all think I’m an assfor missing the funeral. I really didn’t have a choice because custody rules demand I drive Hannah three hours south to meet Kristy for her forty-eight-hour bi-weekly visitation rights.

I enter The Barrel House from the truck entrance, hoping to avoid a run-in with Journey. Maybe I can just spy from across the lot to make sure that Parker arrives in one piece. With a flick of my headlights to hide my existence, I watch the exchange of Journey lifting Parker out of her back seat and handing her to Brett. They’re goodbye is quick and Journey leaves the parking lot as fast as she most likely pulled in.

I flash my headlights back on and pull around to the few empty parking spots. “Come inside with me for a minute,” I tell Hannah.

I hear her head hit the back of the seat. “Seriously, are you trying to torture me tonight? You just said I have to finish my math homework and we’re just making random stops now before we can go home.”

“I told you to bring your work to the school. You decided to ignore me and I don’t owe you an explanation for our stop. Get out of the truck and come inside with me for a minute. Please.”

I’m not sure what I did to make Hannah hate me over the last two years; if it’s because of the divorce I didn’t cause, or the fact that she likely has teenage hormones raging through her body. I don’t know, but whatever it is, she’s making things tough lately.

She stomps behind me, her hideous two-million dollar Ugg boots clunking every inch of the way. The back door is unlocked and I usher Hannah through, finding Brett holding Parker, who’s slouched over his shoulder half asleep, and Melody, Journey’s angelic sister.

“Dude,” I bellow, announcing my entrance as if they didn’t see me bolt through the door. “Why didn’t you have me bring Parker tonight. You knew I was going to be at the school anyway.” As the words are spewing from my mouth, I realize I’m more than likely offending Melody whose sister was nice enough to volunteer her time tonight. Something must have been in it for Journey. I don’t know anyone who would volunteer a night at a PTA event without a child involved.

“Oh,” Melody says, slapping the air as if what she’s about to say will be a joke. “Journey needs a distraction at the moment, and she’s taken a liking to Parker. We thought it might be good for them both tonight.”

We. Hannah was right.

I cross my arms over my chest and step to the side. “So what’s this ‘we’ thing? You didn’t feel like sharing the news?”

“Dad, don’t be a jerk,” Hannah says, swatting me in the arm.

I’m about to snap at Hannah for hitting me when I notice how red Melody’s cheeks are. She’s staring down at the ground, avoiding any form of eye contact. Shit. I embarrassed her. Brett releases an exasperated sigh. “Bro, things are uh—new. Take it easy, okay?”

“New?” I ask with a stifled laugh. “Weren’t you two in love with each other back in high school or some shit?”

“Bro, language, come on,” Brett says, pointing at Parker.

“Do you girls want to see what I found in the back of the store today?” Melody asks Parker and Hannah.

Parker perks up and shimmies out of Brett’s grip and Hannah shrugs but follows Melody as she walks into the storefront.

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you at least tell me someone else was taking Parker tonight? I didn’t recognize Journey and it made me nervous as hell to see her with some random chick.”

“You didn’t recognize Journey? Haven’t you seen her over the last month or so?” Brett asks.

I shake my head. “No, where would I have seen her?”

Brett drops his head into his hand. “Uh, well, let’s see … there was a goodbye party for Harold you didn’t attend, nor the wake or the funeral. So, yeah, I guess you wouldn’t have seen her at any point, but I’ve seen her almost daily since Melody has been home and I felt comfortable